Skip to main content

Montana Rules of Appellate Procedure – 2026

Every Montana appeal — civil, criminal, water, workers' compensation — goes to the Supreme Court, because there is no intermediate appellate court. The genuine outlier is Rule 4: the notice of appeal is filed WITH THE SUPREME COURT CLERK, not the trial court, and trial-court filing habits from other states will blow the deadline. Civil appeals run 30 days from entry (60 if the State is a party), criminal 60 days, cross-appeals 15. Rule 14 supervisory control is Montana's writ substitute.

Browse all 30 rules of the 2026 edition below. Each rule includes the full text, a plain-English summary, committee notes, amendment history, and cross-references to related rules. Use the search box to find rules by keyword or number.

Part 1. Rules

Rule 1 Title and scope Rule 2 Parties - amicus curiae - captions Rule 3 Interpretation of time requirements Rule 4 How and when to take an appeal or cross-appeal Rule 5 Proceeding without the required filing fee Rule 6 Application of these rules Rule 7 Mandatory appellate alternative dispute resolution Rule 8 The record Rule 9 Transmission of the record and other matters relating to the record on appeal Rule 10 Filing and service of papers - generally Rule 11 Form of briefs and other papers - duplication Rule 12 Briefs Rule 13 Filing and service of briefs Rule 14 Jurisdiction - extraordinary writs - supervisory control - original proceedings Rule 15 Certification of questions of law Rule 16 Motions Rule 17 Oral arguments Rule 18 Media access to court proceedings Rule 19 Relief Rule 20 Petitions for rehearing Rule 21 Remittitur Rule 22 Stay of judgment or order pending appeal Rule 23 Undertaking for costs on appeal Rule 24 Sureties Rule 25 Substitution of parties in civil cases - acts of personal representatives or guardians when appointment vacated Rule 26 Extension of time Rule 27 Notice involving constitutional questions where the state is not a party Rule 28 Minutes of supreme court Rule 29 Suspension of the rules Rule 30 Judicial waiver appeals